Lubricating bearing



Oct. 29, 1929. G. A. ARNOLD LUBRICATING BEARING Original Filed Aug. 23.1922 \NVENTOR 6202370 AArnola! BY A'ITORNEY Patented Oct. 29, 1929GEORGE A. ARNOLD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ,GOODELL-PRATT COM-PANY, OF GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTSLUBRICATING BEARING Original application filed August 23, 1922, SerialNo. 583,714. Divided and. this application filed April 26,

' 1928. Serial No. 272,914.

the armature shaft of an electricmotor such as is used in electricdrills and other analogous tools.

As the essential feature of my invention I provide the bearing memberwith an annular oil'storage chamber which retains the oil reason ofwicking wound therein. The bearing member is also provided with alongitudinal groove in its bearing surface, and the groove communicateswith the annular encircling chamber' and contains a section of thewicking so that the oil may be conducted by capillary attraction fromthe chamber to the surface of the shaft along a considerable portion ofthe length of the latter.

As one important feature the groove and annular chamber are so connectedthat both ends of the wicking are secured in the annular chamber, whilean intermediate portion extends along the groove. The wicking may thusbe threaded through apertures into the groove, and the ends then woundaround the bearing to formthe main body of the wicking in the annularencircling chamber.

In the accompanying drawings there are illustrated two embodiments of myinvention.

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through a pair of bearingsillustrated as supporting the armature'of an electric motor.

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged section of the lower bearing shown in Fig. 1. H

Fig. 3'is a top plan view of the bearing shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. tand 5 are transverse sections on I the lines H and 5 5respectively of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of the upper bearing, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sections on the lines 7-7 and 88respectively of Fig. 6.

Although in some constructions the same type of bearing may be used onopposite ends of the shaft, it is preferable that the longer 1 bearingbeprovided at the end of the shaft 7 where thereis the maximum sidethrust,- and thus need for lubrication.

The shaft illustrated is the armature shaft of the electric motorillustrated in my'prior application, Serial No. 583,714, although theinvention is not in any waylimited to this particular type of shaft orthe use to which it is put.

I The lower bearing as illustrated includes 5 a sleeve or bushing 10having an annular chamber 11 encircling the same adjacent to the upperend, and formed between a pair of annularv flanges 12 and 13. Below thelower flange 13 the bearing membermay comprise a comparatively thinsleeve which may be supported in a frame member 14, while the flangesand chamber 11' fit into a socket in said frame member so that the framemember forms an outer'or peripheral wall to the chamber. The innersurface of the sleeve is provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending grooves of such diameter as issuitable for receiving strips ofwicking. These grooves do not extend to the ends of the bearing member,but terminate at apertures 16 at the upper end and 17 at the lower end.These apertures extend substantially radially'and the apertures16communicate with the chamber 11. The lower end portion of. thebearingmember has an annular groove 18 in the outer surfacethereof, intowhich the apertures 17 extend.

In providing the bearing member with wicking, one end of the wicking iswound for bearing member, asshown'in Fig. 5, andprojectecl in throughthe other aperture 17 to the other groove-15.. It is then led along thislast mentioned groove 'to the other aperture 16, and then out'thi'oughthe other aperture 16 to Wound 'enough times in the chamber and aroundthe'bearing member. to provide the desired Volume of wicking inthe-chamber,

fthe chamber 11.1This outer end is then same time the wicking willconduct by capillary attraction the necessary amount of oil to thelengths of wicking in the grooves .15 to keep the shaft properlylubricated. Both ends of the wicking are securely retained in thechamber 11 so that there is no liability of the portion of wicking inthe groove 15 be coming loose at either end or being drawn or wedgedbetween the bearing and the shaft. The frame member may be provided withany suitable. oil hole such as a passage 19 in the frame member.

The hearing whi h is employed for the upper end of the shaft may besimilar to that above described, although preferably it is somewhatshorter and the wickingfrom both ends of the center longitudinal grooveextends to the chamber. The chamber 11,. grooves 15 and apertures 16 maybe the same as those above described, but the lower apertures 17may'extend directly to the chamber 11. This bearing member may have anannular shoulder 20 which will frictionally receive a cap 21 to closethe end of the bearing against the admission of any dust or dirt to theinterior of the hearing. The bearing shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is woundby first applying a few turns of wicking to the chamber 11, thenapplying the wicking to one of the grooves 15,

:then giving a half turn to the wicking to the o 'p'osite side andapplyingthe wicking in .t e other groove. The remaining end of thewicking is then wound in the chamber to give the desired quantity ofabsorbent retainer for the oil. The oil may be delivered to this chamberby any suitable oil hole, for

- instance "the hole 22 in the top flange 12.

To prevent the oil of the bearings from leaking or -=seeping to thearmature and commutator of the motor, each of the sleeves .or bushingsis provided with a flange 23 at the inner end thereof which encircles achamber 24' receiving a felt washer 25.. This washer is held in place byan annular cover 26 encircling the shaft and provided with :a peripheral flange which telescopes friction tight "on the flange 23.

Having thus described any invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hearing member for shafts. including a body portion having anannular groove in the periphery thereof constituting .an oil storagechamber, a longitudinal groove upon the inner surface of the bodyportion,

.an opening-connecting said groovesat-one end of thesecond mentionedgroove, and wishing having an intermediate portion extendingIlength-wise of said second mentioned groove and the terminal portionswound around the body portion in said first mentioned groove andsubstantially filling said oil storage chamber.

2. In combination, a frame member having an aperture therein, a bushingdisposed within said aperture and having a peripheral groove closed atits outer side by said frame member to form an annular oil chamber, saidbushing having a shaft supporting opening therethrough a longitudinalgroove within said opening and substantially radial aperturescommunicating with opposite ends of said groove, and wicking having anintermediate portion extending along said longitudinal groove andprojecting out through both of said apertures,both of the terminalportions of said wicking being wound around said bushing within saidgroove to form a body of oil-retaining material. i T

3. As an article of manufacture. a bushing for use in supporting ashaft, and including a body portion having an annular chamber on theperiphery thereof, a longitudinal groove upon the inner surface, and awickingv having an intermediate portion extending along said groove, andboth of its ends wound around said bushing in said annular chamber toform a body of oil retaining material.

4. A bushing having a longitudinal groove .05

upon the inner surface, an annular groove upon the periphery, radialapertures cornmunilcating with the ends of said longitudinal groove, theapertures at at least one end of said longitudinal groove communicating;1

with :said annular groove. and wicking lying along said longitudinalgroove and extending through said apertures, and having both terminalportions wound around the bushing to substantially fillsaid annulargroove.

5.. As an article of manufacture, a bushing for use in supporting ashaft, and including a body portion'having an annular chamber theperiphery thereof, a longitudinal groove upon the inner surface, awicking;

April, 1928.

' GEORGE A. ARNQLD.

